Warner Bros. Pictures Animation

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This article is about the animation division of Warner Bros. Pictures. For the animation division of the Warner Bros. Television Studios, see Warner Bros. Animation.
Warner Bros. Pictures Animation
Formerly called
 Warner Animation Group (2013–2023)
Division
Industry
Predecessor Warner Bros. Feature Animation (1994–2004)
Founded January 7, 2013; 11 years ago (January 7, 2013)
Founder Jeff Robinov
Headquarters 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, U.S.
Key people
 Bill Damaschke (President)
Chris Leahy (Executive Vice President)
Products Animated films
Parent Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group
Website warnerbros.com

Warner Bros. Pictures Animation[lower-alpha 1] (WBPA), formerly known as Warner Animation Group (WAG), is an American animation studio that serves as the animated feature film label of Warner Bros.' theatrical film production and distribution division, Warner Bros. Pictures. Established on January 7, 2013, by Jeff Robinov, the studio is the successor to the dissolved 2D traditional hand-drawn animation studio Warner Bros. Feature Animation, which shut down in 2004, and is also a sister to the regular Warner Bros. Animation studio.

Its first film, The Lego Movie, was released on February 7, 2014, and its most recent film was DC League of Super-Pets on July 29, 2022; their upcoming slate of films includes The Cat in the Hat on March 6, 2026, Thing One and Thing Two in 2026, Oh, the Places You'll Go! in 2027, and Toto on unspecified release dates. Films produced by WBPA have grossed a total of $2 billion at the box office.

History

On January 7, 2013, Jeff Robinov (then head of the studio's motion picture division) founded a screenplay development department, nicknamed a "think tank" for developing theatrical animated films, known as the Warner Animation Group.[1] The group includes John Requa, Glenn Ficarra, Nicholas Stoller, Jared Stern, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller.[1] Warner Bros. created the group with the hope that the box office reception of their films will be competitive with other animation studios' releases.[1]

On February 7, 2014, Warner Animation Group released their first film, The Lego Movie, a film animated by Animal Logic, which also provided the animation for both spinoffs. It was met with critical praise and proved to be a box-office success. Due to the movie's success, a media franchise was created, with two spinoffs, The Lego Batman Movie[2] and The Lego Ninjago Movie (both 2017),[3] and a sequel, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019). While The Lego Batman Movie proved to be successful at the box office, The Lego Ninjago Movie and The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part were both unable to recoup its budget, with Ninjago being the first film from the Warner Animation Group to be a box-office flop.[4]

WAG's second film, Storks, was released September 23, 2016.[5] It received mixed reviews from critics. On December 14, 2017, Warner Bros. announced Allison Abbate had been named Executive Vice President, and Chris Leahy has been named Senior Vice President.[6]

File:Warner Animation Group logo.svg
The WAG shield used as the print logo from 2014 to 2021; extensively used in trailers

Smallfoot, released September 28, 2018, received mostly positive reviews from critics and became a box office success. In October 2019, Locksmith Animation formed a multi-year production deal with Warner Bros. Pictures and Warner Animation Group, which will distribute Locksmith's films.[7]

An animated reboot of the Scooby-Doo film series titled Scoob! was initially set for a theatrical release on May 15, 2020,[8] but then it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[9] On April 21, 2020, it was announced that it would instead go to video on demand in response to the pandemic.[10] It received mixed reviews from critics.

File:Warner Animation Group 2021 (with Wordmark).svg
Former logo as Warner Animation Group used from 2021 to 2023.

A live-action/animated film based on Tom & Jerry was released internationally on February 11, 2021, and on February 26 in the United States in theaters and HBO Max simultaneously and also debuted the company's new logo to match with the design of the new shield logo that Warner Bros. debuted back in November 2019, and like the main WB logo, which was debuted that year with Locked Down, it is made by Devastudios, using Terragen for the sky and clouds, along with the studio's blueprints from the Warner Bros. Studio Facilities and the available photography and videography from the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood and Google Maps, all in order to reconstruct it in CGI.[11] It received generally negative reviews from critics, and is the first film from the company to have met so.

Space Jam: A New Legacy, starring LeBron James, was released on July 16, 2021, and was the first film from Warner Animation Group to incorporate traditional animation. It also received generally negative reviews from critics and is the second film from the company to have met so after Tom & Jerry, due to the film being heavy on product placement of the studio's intellectual properties.

An animated film based on the Legion of Super-Pets titled DC League of Super-Pets was released on July 29, 2022.[12] It received generally positive reviews from critics.

A Christmas-themed spin-off prequel titled Scoob! Holiday Haunt, taking place in the gang's youth, with the actors who portrayed their younger selves reprising, was set for release in 2022 on HBO Max, but was cancelled following the merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery Inc. to form Warner Bros. Discovery in April 2022 by CEO David Zaslav on August 2, 2022, citing cost-cutting measures and a refocus on theatrical films rather than creating projects for streaming.[13][14][15] Following the merger, it was announced in August that Allison Abbate would be leaving the studio.

File:Warner Bros. Pictures Animation logo.svg
Unused logo for the then-renamed animation studio in 2023.

On February 9, 2023, it was reported that former DreamWorks Animation chief creative officer Bill Damaschke was in talks to lead the studio.[16] On May 5, 2023, it was confirmed in a Warner Bros. Discovery earnings call by Zaslav that Damaschke had been hired, and was hard at work with Warner Bros. Pictures Group co-CEOs Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy on developing a new slate of films.[17] On June 9, 2023, Damaschke announced the rebranding of the division into Warner Bros. Pictures Animation and stated that they planned to follow the creative lead of Abdy and De Luca.[18]

Upcoming releases

The studio was developing a live-action/animation hybrid film titled Coyote vs. Acme, directed by Dave Green and produced by Chris DeFaria and James Gunn, which was due to be released on July 21, 2023.[19] However, that release date was taken by Barbie, with Coyote vs. Acme remaining undated.[20] However, the film was cancelled on November 9, 2023, the studio citing a tax write-off;[21] a similar fate befell the Scoob! prequel Scoob! Holiday Haunt the previous year. This decision, which was not known to the crew until it was completed,[22] was met with backlash, citing that the film had received positive test screenings and interested buyers.[23][24] However, following extensive backlash, the company reversed their decisions, allowing the filmmakers to shop the film to interested distributors.[25] However, in February 2024, due to being unable to find a distributor, Warner Bros. Discovery was reportedly considering canceling and deleting the film for good, though discussions to release it were reportedly still ongoing.[26][27]

A musical feature adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's children's book Toto: The Dog-Gone Amazing Story Of The Wizard Of Oz began animation production in February 2021. It is being directed by Alex Timbers, from a screenplay by John August, and produced by Derek Frey.[28] It was originally scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States on February 2, 2024. On April 5, 2023, it was taken off the release schedule with Alto Knights taking over its original release date.[29]

Warner Bros. Pictures Animation is also collaborating with Dr. Seuss Enterprises to produce films based on a series of children's books of Dr. Seuss properties, including film adaptations of both The Cat in the Hat and Oh, the Places You'll Go!. The firm is also developing a spin-off film of The Cat in the Hat with the focus on Thing One and Thing Two, with collaboration with J. J. Abrams' production company Bad Robot Productions.[30]

There are also plans to develop a DC League of Super-Pets franchise following the film's critical and commercial success.[31]

The second Hanna-Barbera based film titled Meet the Flintstones, an origin movie based on The Flintstones is in early development. It will be written by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, who both previously directed Illumination's The Super Mario Bros. Movie.[18]

A photorealistic animated feature film adaptation of the Animal Planet series Meerkat Manor was announced to be in development in April 2024, with Seth Green and Tracy Falco set to produce the film, and series creator Caroline Hawkins and Clare Birks from Oxford Scientific Films to serve as executive producers.[32]

Production

Similar to Paramount Animation and Sony Pictures Animation, Warner Bros. Pictures Animation outsources their computer-animated films' production to other studios such as Animal Logic (The Lego Movie franchise, DC League of Super-Pets and Toto), Sony Pictures Imageworks (Storks and Smallfoot), Reel FX Creative Studios (Scoob!), Framestore (Tom & Jerry) and Industrial Light & Magic (Space Jam: A New Legacy). However, Space Jam: A New Legacy did also include hand-drawn animation, which is done in-house and also outsourced from Company 3 Animation,[33] and Tonic DNA.[34][35][36][37][38][39]

The budgets for their films tend to range from $60–80 million. Their most expensive films to date are The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part ($99 million), Scoob! ($90 million), Space Jam: A New Legacy ($150 million), and DC League of Super-Pets ($90 million).

The screenplay department is reportedly somewhat similar to Pixar Animation Studios' "brain trust" in terms of how its members consult with one another and give feedback on each other's projects. The group is nicknamed the "think tank".[40]

Filmography

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Main article: List of Warner Bros. Pictures Animation productions
# Title Release date Co-production with Animation services Editor Notes Budget Gross Ref.
Under Warner Animation Group
1 The Lego Movie February 7, 2014 Village Roadshow Pictures
Lego System A/S
Vertigo Entertainment
Lin Pictures		 Animal Logic David Burrows & Chris McKay First film.
First collaboration with Lego System A/S, Vertigo Entertainment, and Lin Pictures.
First collaboration with Animal Logic.[S]		 $60–65 million $469 million [41]
2 Storks September 23, 2016 RatPac-Dune Entertainment
Stoller Global Solutions (uncredited)		 Sony Pictures Imageworks John Venzon First fully-animated film
First collaboration with Sony Pictures Imageworks.		 $70 million $183.7 million [42]
3 The Lego Batman Movie February 10, 2017 DC Entertainment
RatPac-Dune Entertainment
Lego System A/S
Lord Miller Productions
Vertigo Entertainment
Lin Pictures		 Animal Logic David Burrows, Matt Villa, & John Venzon First spin-off film.
First film based on a DC Comics property.
First collaboration with Lord Miller Productions.		 $80 million $312 million [43]
4 The Lego Ninjago Movie September 22, 2017 RatPac-Dune Entertainment
Lego System A/S
Vertigo Entertainment
Lord Miller Productions
Lin Pictures		 Julie Rogers, Garret Elkins, Ryan Folsey, John Venzon, & David Burrows Final collaboration with Lin Pictures before renaming itself to Rideback.[S] $70 million $123.7 million [44]
5 Smallfoot September 28, 2018 Zaftig Films Sony Pictures Imageworks Peter Ettinger First musical film. $80 million $217.9 million [45]
6 The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part February 8, 2019 Lego System A/S
Vertigo Entertainment
Lord Miller Productions
Rideback		 Animal Logic Clare Knight First sequel.
First collaboration with Rideback after renaming itself from Lin Pictures.
Final Lego film before the adaptation rights were sold to Universal Pictures.[S]		 $99 million $192.3 million [46]
7 Scoob! May 15, 2020[lower-alpha 2] N/A Reel FX Creative Studios Ryan Folsey & Vanara Taing First film based on a Hanna-Barbera property.
First film to be released on PVOD.
First collaboration with Reel FX Creative Studios.		 $90 million[50] $28.6 million [51]
8 Tom & Jerry February 26, 2021 The Story Company Turner Entertainment Co.(uncredited) Framestore Peter S. Elliot First film simultaneously released in theatres and on Max.[S] $79 million $136.5 million [52]
9 Space Jam: A New Legacy July 16, 2021 Proximity
The SpringHill Company		 Industrial Light & Magic
Luma Pictures
Cinesite[53]
Company 3 Animation
Tonic DNA
House of Moves
Day For Nite
Studio D
Virtuos		 Bob Ducsay First film to incorporate traditional animation.
Final film simultaneously released in theatres and on Max.[S]		 $150 million $163.7 million [54]
10 DC League of Super-Pets July 29, 2022[12] DC Entertainment
Seven Bucks Productions[55]		 Animal Logic[56] David Egan & Jhoanne Reyes Possibly the final film released under the Warner Animation Group name. $90 million $207.6 million [57]
Upcoming
11 Coyote vs. Acme 2024[19][58][20][59][60][61] Two Monkeys, a Goat, and Another, Dead, Monkey DNEG[62] Carsten Kurpane [22] [S] Completed [63]
Under Warner Bros. Pictures Animation
12 The Cat in the Hat March 6, 2026[18][64] Dr. Seuss Enterprises[65][30] DNEG TBA In development [65][30]
13 Thing One and Thing Two 2026[30] [30]
14 Oh, the Places You'll Go! 2027[30] Dr. Seuss Enterprises
Bad Robot Productions		 [30]
15 Toto TBA[66][29] Turner Entertainment Co. Animal Logic In production [67]
16 Meet the Flintstones TBA N/A In development [18]
17 Meerkat Manor The Green Room
Oxford Scientific Films
ITV Studios		 N/A [32]

Franchises

Title Films Short films Release dates
The Lego Movie 4 11 2014–2019
DC 2 0 2017–present
Tom & Jerry 1 2021–present
Looney Tunes 2021–present

Accolades

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Main article: List of Warner Bros. Pictures Animation productions § Accolades

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Pronounced "Warner Brothers Pictures Animation"
  2. ↑ Released on Premium VOD in the United States and Canada in lieu of a planned theatrical release on this date,[47] and later released in theaters in select countries with relaxed COVID-19 restrictions beginning July 8, 2020.[48][49]

References

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  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 30.4 30.5 30.6 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  45. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  46. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  48. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  49. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  50. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  51. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  52. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  53. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  54. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  55. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  56. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  57. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  62. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  63. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  64. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  65. ↑ 65.0 65.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  66. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  67. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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